Chapter 63
“Difficult”
The two of them immediately stopped their swords.
I had moved without thinking, but I hadn’t thought about what to say.
“…Siyute.”
Should I tell him to stop? Or ask if he was trying to kill Roitz right now?
Only then did my rational thinking return, pushing away my reflexive impulse.
What did I just do?
Did I really think Siyute would suddenly try to kill Roitz?
Even I was surprised by my own actions as I blinked at Siyute standing in front of me.
“Noona.”
Siyute lowered his sword and suddenly pulled me toward him.
“If you tell me to stop, I’ll stop.”
His voice didn’t sound serious, but it carried a heavy tone I couldn’t read.
However, his eyes—like hidden blades—were still directed at Roitz.
Roitz’s hand, frozen in tension, reached for Siyute’s arm holding me.
But Siyute, still holding me, stepped back.
“Sir Velkyrente, don’t look so scary.”
“Let go of her.”
“Shouldn’t keeping Noona safe be the priority? How do you know your sword right now isn’t a threat to her?”
Roitz’s eyes and expression became even harsher.
His deep navy eyes were like frozen blades, and his expression carried not just caution, but contempt.
He stepped forward, grabbed Siyute’s wrist, and spoke in a low voice.
“Let go. Now.”
It was low, but the kind of voice that pressed down with heavy intimidation.
Naturally, Siyute’s arm was flung aside right after.
Roitz gripped his sword again.
“Step aside, Serdin.”
“But…”
“Serdin.”
His voice was still low, but different from the harsh tone he had used with Cute earlier.
“Serdin.”
Roitz held my arm and called my name again.
His gaze and voice toward me carried a soft plea.
The moment I saw that look, I had no choice but to step back—realizing I had made a big mistake.
“…I’m sorry.”
I quickly returned to where I had been standing.
‘What did I just do?’
This wasn’t just a heated quarrel where swords happened to clash.
It was a sparring match—a duel between two swordsmen trusting their own skills.
I had failed to show respect to both of them.
A duel was something between two people only.
No third party had the right to step in on their own.
Doing so meant ignoring the skill and self-control of those fighting.
And yet, when Siyute’s blade turned toward Roitz—
I felt a threat, like something very important to me was about to break.
That feeling pulled me into the middle of the duel before my mind could catch up.
‘Why did I…’
Clang!—their swords clashed again.
The duel ended quickly.
Roitz dodged Siyute’s holy power–covered sword, moved behind him, and in an instant aimed his blade at Siyute’s neck.
Seeing that, I realized again how arrogant and disrespectful my interference had been.
Both of their slightly sweaty faces turned toward me.
Lowering their swords, they walked over.
Because of what I had done, I felt embarrassed to face them—especially Roitz.
I remembered what Roitz had once told me:
“Being in the same knight order means trusting each other with your back. That means believing in each other.”
I hadn’t trusted Roitz enough.
Even knowing he was strong—truly strong—I still felt uneasy.
He had trusted me so much he never questioned me, but I hadn’t done the same.
“I’ll be going now, Noona. The result is the result.”
Cute shrugged with a smile.
“See you again, Sir Velkyrente.”
A sharper expression than any sword’s edge flashed across their faces for a moment.
Cute smiled and offered his hand to Roitz.
This time, Roitz took it.
They gripped each other’s hands shortly but with strong force before letting go.
When Cute left, only Roitz and I remained.
Standing far away, Roitz brushed back his hair with an expressionless face.
“Senior…”
When I called him hesitantly, his eyes turned toward me.
He looked slightly tired.
No—he also seemed a little hurt. By me.
“I’m sorry, Senior.”
I stepped closer, peeking at his expression.
Roitz looked at me without expression, then said quietly:
“Why did you do that?”
He sounded angry. And I knew I had done something wrong.
“My body… just moved on its own.”
I shrank back slightly, making excuses. His expression stayed firm.
“It was dangerous. What if you got hurt?”
“You’re right, that would’ve been bad.”
“You know it’s wrong?”
“Yes, of course. It’s wrong. It’s all my fault.”
Unlike usual, I didn’t argue at all.
I just nodded like everything he said was right.
“What was I thinking? I really shouldn’t have done that!”
After watching me for a while, his expression finally softened.
When I even forced a sycophantic smile, he gave a faint smile back.
“Then, I’ll see you later!”
Seeing his smile, I hurried to say goodbye—wanting to end it before he thought about it again and got upset.
“Wait, Serdin.”
Maybe I was too obvious about leaving, because Roitz caught my arm as I turned away.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. You must be tired, so rest. I’ll head back too.”
“Stay a little longer.”
“Is this because I said I had something to tell you?”
“No, it’s because of me. Right now… I…”
I stopped and turned to look at him.
“…need you.”
He held onto my sleeve even tighter as he said it.
The troubled look on his face when saying he needed me made me freeze.
“Me?”
I saw myself reflected in his deep blue eyes.
“Do you need my help?”
“It’s not about helping. I just need you.”
Roitz’s thoughts were sometimes hard to guess.
Why did he need me?
“Why?”
I looked straight at him, waiting for an answer.
“Well, it’s just…”
He seemed to struggle to say something, then finally said:
“…I just have something to give you.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, now.”
Suddenly giving me something—no wonder it was hard for him to bring up.
It was true I had hunted monsters all day because I wanted to join the mission, but it was a bit late now.
Work was important, but so was work-life balance. Roitz should know that.
But if it was urgent, I had no choice.
Ready for anything, I followed Roitz.
He stopped in front of a campfire outside the barracks.
People were warming their hands and resting.
“Wait here.”
He said that and walked off.
‘What exactly am I supposed to do here?’
If it was some easy task just because I was injured, I didn’t want it.
A little tense, I warmed my hands and looked around.
People laughed and talked, but there was still a sense of tension in the air.
‘Feels like the calm before a storm.’
While waiting for Roitz, I picked up a stick and poked the fire.
I didn’t know if I had no thoughts or too many—my head felt blank.
Then I heard footsteps coming this way. I knew the sound and looked up.
“Senior.”
As expected.
Roitz sat down, leaning against the wooden post beside me.
The firelight flickered over his face. He bent one leg, rested his arm on it, and closed his eyes briefly.
“Am I in the mission now?”
There were about two hand spans of space between us.
“I caught all twenty monsters. And my arm is really fine.”
Roitz only nodded without opening his eyes.
“What is it you have to give me?”
Silence fell. Nothing was said across the small gap.
Only the crackling of the fire and the noise of nearby conversations filled the air.
“Did you hear me?”
“Serdin.”
“Yes.”
“Why do you want to fight so much? Wouldn’t it be nice to rest when you’re hurt?”
“If I wanted that, I wouldn’t have come here.”
“A few days ago, you said you had no choice because I came.”
“I just said that. If I’d refused, I could’ve stayed, right?”
Roitz let out a long sigh and murmured:
“Is your arm really fine?”
“Very, completely, perfectly fine.”
“Don’t overdo it. If you get in danger, it’s hard for me.”
“I told you I won’t be a burden.”
“….”
Roitz stayed leaning against the post with his eyes closed.
Well, he must be tired.
He had traveled here quickly and now had to plan ahead without much rest.
‘So the thing he had to give me—did that disappear?’
Normally I would’ve chatted to him anyway, but now I just quietly watched him.
I hugged my knees.
No, maybe I should say something now.
“Sen—”
But Roitz spoke first.
“Serdin.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Weren’t your eyes closed?”
“They are.”
“You have eyes on your cheeks or something?”
He chuckled softly without opening his eyes.
I placed my hand on the ground and leaned closer to his face, checking his cheek.
“No eyes there. So how did you know?”
“I can tell without looking.”
“Am I that easy to read?”
I said it like teasing him—expecting him to agree.
But Roitz said:
“No. You’re difficult.”
And with that, he opened his eyes.
